Last weekend, five Frenship High School students arrived in Orlando, Florida with their heads in the game and ready to dominate the boards. Since their advancement from the North Texas Scholastic Chess Tournament in March, the teams have been practicing their moves and counter moves for this vigorous championship.  

The Frenship team, consisting of Sean Bobb, Isabelle Gutierrez, Bradley Calcote, Caleb Verett, and Massimo Villanueva, competed in the U1200 division. Throughout the championship, they had 2 games on Friday, 3 games on Saturday, and 2 games on Sunday. 

For each match, the students did not know who their competitor was until 15 minutes before the start time. Each player had one and a half hours to finish the game, which means a single game could last three hours, which several did. 

“The ability for these tigers to focus through hours of mental fatigue against an opponent that is randomly selected from a pool of 320 students is a testament to their dedication and fortitude,” said Abby Freo, one of the FHS Chess Club Sponsors. 

One of the standout moments from the competition was in game seven, when four of the five Frenship players outmaneuvered and beat their opponents, making their mark on the national stage. 

By the end of the rigorous championship tournament, Frenship claimed 30th place overall. Freo and Michelle Bompezzi, another FHS Chess Club sponsor, expressed how proud they are of the students and the valuable experience they are bringing home 

“We are incredibly proud of these FHS tigers for working hard on and off the board,” said Freo and Bompezzi. “The bond they have formed this year is fun to watch, and we hope this will encourage many others to embrace their love for the game." 

Looking ahead, all five students will return next season with hopes of earning another spot at the SuperNationals Championship. One key lesson they’re taking with them is to never underestimate an opponent, no matter their rating. 

Congratulations, Tigers!